Attleboro HighSchool’s new Mr. AHS is JamieChhoeun (12), who danced hisway to victory at the TenthAnnual Mr. AHS Contestpresented by the class of 2010and Robert’s Tuxedo.

There were sevencontestants: Watson Yerm (10)who placed second, Tom Cao(12), Josh Kong (12), DerekGoulet (12), Steven Escobar(10), Piseth Chhoeuy (12), andlast but not least, Mr. PeterTarsi, an AHS physics teacher.

The event started offwith each contestant in streetwear. Then came the talentportion of the evening.Chhoeun danced in differentstyles to a mixed CD, Yerm sangand danced to “Replay” by SeanKingston and “Together” byNe-Yo. Cao sang “2 is BetterThan 1” by Boys Like Girls.Kong played the triangle anddanced to “Hotel RoomService” by Pitbull. Gouletplayed the drums to his ownstyle. Escobar free styled a self-crafted rap to a mix. Chhoeuydanced to “Stronger Mix” byKanye West. Tarsi preformedmagic tricks and proved hisskills by solving the mystery ofthe Rubik’s cube in under aminute and a half.

The judges werehistory teacher Ms. Carla Bono,English teacher Mrs. SheliaRosa, sophomore dean Mr.Martin Tighe, math teacher Mr.Allen Weintrab and Ryan Baker(12). The contest was in a “pointbased” format, which meansthat each contestant had fourcategories: causal, talent,question and answer, and thelast dance. Each one received acertain amount of pointsdepending on theirperformance. Then, the judgescounted up the points and the

two with the highest amountwere the winners. Bono said, “Ithought everyone did a goodjob and it was put together verywell.”

Toward the end, eachcontestant was asked a questionby his female escort. After that,the judges deliberated anddecided who the victor was.

Winner Chhoeun said,“To be honest, I just kindawinged it.” about his onstageperformance.

Runner up Yermexplained his disappointmenton getting second place for thesecond year in a row. “I washappy that I placed, but it feltlike a repeat of last year.”

Escobar said abouthimself that “being Latino, myculture motivates me tocontinue rapping.”

Cao decided tocompete in the contest,“Because it’s my senior year,and I just thought it would befun.”

Chhoeuy said that hismotivation to dance comes from“The King of Pop” MichaelJackson.

Kong said that heacquired his talent about twoweeks before the Mr. AHSevent, held in mid November,and that he’s “always wanted toplay the triangle.”

Tarsi tried out for Mr.AHS because he thought hecould win. He said “I alwaysthought I was Mr. AHS” andthat he “did it for his children.

The winner of Mr.AHS receives a free tux rentalfrom Roberts Tuxedo for theprom and of course, the gloryof being “Mr. AHS.” Chhoeunfelt he was going to win He said,“It wasn’t a shock. I knew I wasthe best, but, of course, I washappy.

Mr. AHSBy: Victoria Lane

Mr. AHS Winner, Jamie Chhoeun

Mr. AHS Runner Up, Watson Yerm

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New Policy, New Problems?By: Taylor Beland and Ryan Olmo

Continued on page 5

Attleboro High School100 Rathbun Willard

DriveAttleboro, MA 02703Phone: 508-222-5150

Fax: 508-223-1579Web Address: <http:www.

attleboroschools.com>Principal:

Jeff NewmanSuperintendent:Dr. Pia Durkin

INDEXINDEXINDEXINDEXINDEX

Winter 2010Edition 2

Page 2: *Swine Flu *Follow the Leader *Dumb Warning Labels

Pages 3-4: *Reviews ~Jersey Shore ~ Allison Iraheta ~The Blind Side ~Avatar ~Modern Warfare 2 ~Behind every great LovePage 5: *“Fur is Dead” * Go Green

Page 6: *State Trooper at AHS *Rock for Trees *Basketball Tryouts

Check out: ~Writing an Editorial ~Accepted ~Christmas Recap ~Texting in Class ~Adopt, don’t Shop ~Senioritis Strikes Again

Pages 7-10: *Editorials*

Pages 12-13: *Valentine’s Day

Page 14: *World is Melting *Dealing with Anger

Whitson’s LunchCompany Food and BeverageManager Matt Delaney recentlybegan a new policy for theschool store that states:Students will not be able tobring backpacks, coats or reallybaggy sweatshirts into the store.

This policy hasbeen established because ofthe recent theft in the store.Delaney said, “Wecompared the sold items tothe actual amount of itemswe have and it kept comingup short.”

Delaney’s decisionto enforce this policy has not

gone well with students,however.

Christopher Johnson(10) said “[The policy] makesme feel like a shoplifter. Whywould they do that if there arecameras in there?”

Jeff Diciaccio (10)said, “It’s ridiculous and theyshould be able to trust thestudents.”

Michelle Lefebvrewas physically pushed backwhile entering the store wearinga sweatshirt by the lunch ladiesbefore entering the store Shesaid, “She violated me andpushed me,” adding, “She hadno right to touch me.”

Adam Rioux (11) said,“There’s no point in taking offyour sweatshirt. No one’s goingto shove a pizza in theirsweatshirt.”

Many students,including Meghann Griffin andTyler Giagrande, think thepolicy is “dumb.”

The policy isunpopular with students andlunch staff alike. Deans havealso had to step in to disciplinestudents after they haveconfronted and verbally abusedthe lunch ladies, who are justdoing their job.

Tenth Grade dean Mr.Martin Tighe said, “I wouldpunish them with a session orhave the students write an

School store

Page 11: *Dueling Pens

An increased numberof people have caught the SwineFlu and the number of deathsduring the flu season haveincreased. Thanks to this,people have changed theirbehavior in order to preventcolds and the flu.

Jillian Kelly (10) said,“I’ve been washing my handslike crazy lately, especiallybefore I eat.”

Jennifer Gordon, wholives in Attleboro, makes herchildren take vitamins and ateaspoon of honey daily. “I dothis because I want to beproactive instead of reactive;especially because the SwineFlu vaccination is not availableat my pediatrician yet. It [thehoney and vitamins]strengthens their immunesystems,” said Gordon. Gordonalso bought her children minibottles of portable handsanitizer to bring to school withthem. Teachers in the school

also have bottles of handsanitizer in their rooms.

The World HealthOrganization recommendspeople sneeze or cough into thecrook of their elbow, so germswon’t stay on their hands andspread to other people. This isa better way to sneeze becausethe Swine Flu or regular fluspreads faster and easier fromhand to hand contact withothers.

AHS school nurse Ms.LeeAnn Carroll said, “I thinkmore people are aware ofhygiene now, since the swine fluhit.” She recommends peoplesneeze into their elbow insteadof their hands.

Mrs. Kathrine Depot,AHS library assistant said, “Ihave a lot of hand sanitizer andI wipe the keyboards, backs ofchairs and tables down morefrequently with Lysol wipes.”

Some people,however, are opposed to

sneezing in their elbow. Theyfind sneezing on hands andwashing them after to be abetter idea.

Amie Lawson, aCardiac EMT (emergencymedical technician) at AdvanceMedical in Warwick said, “Ithink its [sneezing into elbow]unsanitary. Sneezing into yourhands and washing themimmediately after is a betterconcept of sanitation.”

The WakeMed healthand hospitals website says itdoesn’t matter which way aperson sneezes, just as long asthey cover their mouth andwash their hands afterwards(<http://www.wakemed.org/body.cfm?id=1116>).

Whether they’rewashing their hands frequentlyor sneezing and coughing intotheir elbows, people arechanging their way of sanitationto try and prevent the SwineFlu.

Swine Flu changes how People ActBy: Taylor Beland

Ryan Olmo (10) changes the way he sneezesfrom hands to WHO’s recommendation, the elbow

Edition 2 Winter 2010

In case we needed further proof that the human race isdoomed through stupidity, here are some actual labels on goods:

• On Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.(Because that’s possible?)

• On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clotheson body. (Duh! Thanks for the warning.)

• On Boot’s Children’s cough medicine: Do not drive caror operate machinery. (I don’t know about you but Ihaven’t seen many children on the road lately.)

• On a Korean kitchen knife: Warning: keep out ofchildren. (Keep OUT? I would hope so.)

• On a child’s superman costume: Wearing of thisgarment does not enable you to fly. (Oh, it doesn’t?Could have fooled me.)

• Little Ones Baby Lotion: Keep away from children(That seems odd considering its baby lotion…)

• Hairdryer: Do not use while taking a shower. (BecauseI always dry my hair while washing it.)

• RCA Television Remote Control: Not Dishwasher Safe(So that’s why my remote doesn’t work…)

• Air Conditioner: Caution: Avoid dropping airconditioners out of windows. (There goes my Fridaynight.)

• Tesco’s Tiramisu dessert: (printed on bottom of thebox): Do not turn upside down. (That’s just confusing.)

• Infant’s bathtub: Do not throw baby out with bathwater. (How would that even be possible?)

• Bottle of shampoo for dogs Caution: The contents ofthis bottle should not be fed to fish. (Ha ha, what !?)

• Heated seat cushion: Warning: Do not use on eyes.(Seriously?)

I think after reading these it becomesunderstandable how ignorant and lazy manufacturershave become. Do they even think before they write thesethings? It’s truly sad how ignorant they think we are.

Congratulations America, we are closer andcloser to becoming useless.

Dumb Warning LabelsBy: Victoria Lane

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Fashion has changeddramatically over the years, butlately teens seem to be stuck ina “must have” rut. Companiessuch as Hollister, Abercrombie& Fitch and Ugg Australia areraking in the cash as youngadults crave to own everythingthat’s “in.”

Teens have always feltpeer pressure when it comes tobuying clothes, but today it’sevident that the pressure isbecoming more intense. Ifsomebody owns a pair ofknockoff Uggs, he or she mayreceive disgusted looks. If aCoach bag is a fake, the ownerpractically looks “poor.”

People are so absorbedin what everyone else thinks ofthem that it seems as though agenuine personality is justthrown out the door. It’samazing that I’ve actually heardstories like, “Jen, you’re reallynice but you wear knockoffs, soI can’t be seen with youanymore.” I mean, really, howridiculous. Unfortunately, thesad truth is that “first impressionmatter” and if one’s jeans don’tcost $85 and one’s polo wasn’t$65, then he or she is lookeddown upon.

Don’t get me wrong.Not all teens fall into the peerpressures of “fitting in.” Thereare plenty who still appreciatehaving a friend for their

kindness and humor. Not allfall into that pattern.

Individuality issomething that’s less commonlately, which is a littledisappointing. Is imaginationso weak in this generation thatit’s impossible to come up withyour own clothing ideas? It’sso easy and really cheap tobecome the leader rather thanfollower.

Some stores that havecheap, creative and colorfulclothes are:

• Wet Seal: This store isfor the teen girl whostrives to attain anurban chic. From thebasic hoodie to thepaint splattered jeans,Wet Seal has got youcovered. Whileservicing mostlyolder female teens,they provide a rangeof fashionableoptions, both onlineand in stores,throughout the UnitedStates. <http://www.wetseal.com/home.jsp>

• Old Navy: Theychange quickly withthe seasons and areup-to-date on newstyles; there is noreason to beembarrassed to shophere. The clothing is

fashionable andrelatively inexpensive,especially in theirclearance section.< h t t p : / / w w w. o l dnavy.com/>

• Pacific Sunwear(Pacsun): This is agreat store offeringskate and surf stylesfor both guys andgirls. Not only is itstylish, but it’s alsoless expensive thanother skate and surfs,such as Zumies.<http://shop.pacsun.com/home.jsp>

• Target: This is popularfor affordable andmodern clothing andother items, such asfood and electronics.It’s pretty much a onestop shop withclothing andnecessities that won’tbreak the bank. <http://www.target.com/>

Use this guide; be a littlemore creative and don’t just gowith everyone else’s flow.Being different isn’t a bad thingat all. It helps people realizewho they actually are.So ask yourself, do I want tolive in a world whereeveryone looks, dresses andacts the same?

Follow the LeaderBy: Victoria Lane

Six pairs of uggs in various colors; a popular new boot that’s taking overteens

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Edition 2 Winter 2010

Welcome to SeasideHeights, NJ, the land of self-professed “guidos” and“guidettes” and also thelocation of MTV’s newestreality television show.

Jersey Shore detailsthe lives of a group of Italian-American twenty-something-year-olds who are picked to livein one house for the summer.The show requires the cast toswitch shifts at a T-shirt shopon a local boardwalk, but therest of their time is spent at localbars and beaches.

Similar to casts fromother MTV reality shows likeReal World, the cast of JerseyShore is the epitome of famemongers, desperately seekingtheir 15 minutes of fame.

However, unlikeother MTV shows, Jersey Shorestoops down to a new low withcast members who glorify thevery stereotype that mostItalian-American foundationgroups have been trying toeliminate from Americansociety for several years –“guidos.”

According to the castmembers of Jersey Shore, beinga “guido” is a life-style in whichone is perpetually tanned with

gelled hair. They find no shamein parading around the Shoreprofessing their love for allother “guidos.”

The controversiessurrounding Jersey Shore havetranscended beyond the realmsof the entertainment industryand into National Italian-American Heritage groups.

In an officialstatement released onDecember 4, 2009 to theAssociated Press, UNICONational President AndreDiMino said that MTV is“blatantly as well assubliminally bashing Italian-Americans with everytechnique possible,” and thatthe Jersey Shore cast membersare “an embarrassment tothemselves, their heritage andtheir families.”

DiMino’s sentiment isreiterated by the NationalItalian American Foundationand the Order of the Sons ofItaly in America, as well as byItalian-Americans in theentertainment industry andnewspaper business.

However, as thecriticism continues to mount,the viewership seems to rise.The first episode aired on Dec.

3, 2009 to 1.375 millionviewers. Within two weeks, theviewership jumped to around2.5 million.

Jersey Shore seems tobe a new guilty pleasure for thecountry. We laugh as the castmembers fist-pump their waythrough cheesy night clubs andwhen they take the time to teachthe audience how toappropriately apply hair gel andtanning spray to achieve theperfect look. We know the nick-names “Snooki,” “J Woww”and “The Situation” are utterlyridiculous, yet each weekJersey Shore gains morepopularity.

I shudder to think thatJersey Shore is becoming thenext cultural phenomenon. Ilook at the cast of this show, abunch of unmotivated anduneducated people who arescheming to make idiots ofthemselves in order to gain their15 minutes of fame, and I amrevolted. However, what is mostterrible is that no matter howwidely regarded it is that thisshow is offensive, stereotypicaland embarrassingly bad, JerseyShore is still insanely addictive.

Jersey ShoreBy: Emily Dugan

Reviews

The cast of MTV’s Jersey Shore

The movie The BlindSide, directed by John LeeHandcock, is about a true heart-warming story about an All-American college offensivetackle football star who becamea star NFL player for theBaltimore Ravens.

This movie is centeredon Micheal Oher, who was a topfirst draft pick as an offensivetackle.

The Blind Side startsoff with a 17-year-old man as ahomeless African Americanyoungster from a broken-down

home in a poor part ofMemphis, Tenn.

Oher was goingthrough rough times in his earlylife with his mother, who wasaddicted to drugs. He neverknew who his real father wasuntil he attended high schooland found out from theprincipal he had beenmurdered.

Oher was taken in bythe Touhys. This well-to-dowhite family is made up of Mrs.Leigh Touhy (Sandra Bullock),Mr. Sean Touhy (TimMcGraw), Collins Touhy (Lily

Collins), and S. J. Touhy (JaeHead). At the same time, Oher’spresence in the Touhys’ livesleads them to some insightfulself-discoveries of their own.Living in this new environment,the teen faces a different set ofchallenges.

As a football playerand student, Oher works hardand with the help of his coachesand adopted family, he becomesan All-American footballoffensive left tackle in theNational College AthleticAssociation (NCAA).

This movie couldpossibly be one of the mostinspiring sport movies ever,because it shows how peoplecan have a second chance tochange their lives around andachieve their goals.

Similar to the movieRemember the Titans, thismovie will remind reviewers offootball players who arestruggling with real-lifeproblems.

This PG-13 128minute movie is definitely threeout of four stars. It can be seenin local theaters.

The Blind SideBy: Watson Yerm

Movie poster of The BlindSide

Former American Idolcontestant, Allison Iraheta,released her hit debut albumJust Like You on Dec. 1, 2009.Her debut single, “Friday I’ll BeOver U,” released last Oct. is ahit on this much anticipatedalbum.

Iraheta was born inGlendale, Calif. on April 27,1992. She was in the eighthseason of American Idol in2008 and made it as a top fourfinalist.

On June 9, 2009,Iraheta signed a record dealwith Jive Records and 19Entertainment. In Sept. 2009,Iraheta was on the Idol touracross all 50 states, duringwhich she recorded her album,Just Like You.

People who expectIraheta to sing similarly to theperformances during the Idoltour are in for a surprise. Thissong is in a completely newstyle and is different than all herperformances on the show. OnIdol Iraheta sang songs by NoDoubt, Kelly Clarkson, Janis

Joplin and many more artists,which are unlike her rockersongs.

On her album shestates “There will be someballads and some upbeats,maybe you can dance to songs,but they all pretty much comeout as a rock vibe.”

“Friday I’ll Be OverYou” is one of those songs thatwhen depressed about a boy, it’sgood to listen to and realize thathe’s just a boy and you’ll beover him by Friday.

It’s unique because itis not a typical, slow, sad, break-up song. It’s “poppy” and up-tempo.

“Friday I’ll Be OverYou” is excellent for teenagegirls because most youngwomen can relate to its “breakup and move on” theme.

Expect to hear more ofIraheta in the near future withhits like “Beat Me Up,” “Don’tWaste the Pretty” and “Pieces.”Iraheta’s album can be found atany music or retail store.

Friday, Allison Iraheta will be Over YouBy: Amanda Kopiec

Allison Iraheta’s album poster and card

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Edition 2 Winter 2010

ReviewsWilliam Shake-

speare’s Macbeth, is a tragicstory that has survived the testof time with its tale of glory,treason and tainted love.However, when it wasperformed by the members of“Shakespeare Now!” a collegetheatre production in Boston theplay was a spectacle to behold;not a tragedy.

The cast played theirroles both accurately andexcitingly. All of the characterswere represented in a plausiblemanner. Specifically, DanRoach portrayed Macbethexceptionally. The dialoguesand soliloquies were loud andpassionate, and Roach’s

movements were executed withfinesse.

The grotesque natureof the murders and the chillingaspects of witchcraft that lacethe play help set the mood forthe viewer.

Despite the superioracting, the play lacked setting,but this is understandablebecause it placed the focal pointon the story rather than on apainted set or props. With thisin mind, each scene consistedof a different layout of threesteel tables. It changed thewhereabouts of the sceneswithout taking away from whatwas happening in them. Also,they conveyed a theme along

with the blood stainedcostumes, which was aninteresting part of the play.

Overall, the play getstwo thumbs up. If given theopportunity to change anything,more costumes and weaponsmodeled to resemble those fromthe historical context of the playwould have been beneficial.This would add another layer tothe actions and give a bit ofauthenticity to the play as awhole.

For more informationregarding the “ShakespeareNow!” theatre company, visittheir website at<www.shakespearenow.org>.

Macbeth: Not Always a TragedyBy: Jesse Mallon

The Notebook,directed by Nick Cassavetesand written by Nicholas Sparks,tells the summer romance ofAllie Hamilton, played byRachel McAdams, and NoahCalhoun, played by RyanGosling, a young couple whofall in love.

The movie beginswith an elderly man namedDuke, reading the story of Noahand Allie to an old woman withAlzheimer’s disease.

Noah and Allie spenda memorable summer together,while dealing with the strugglesof being from two differentsocial classes. After beingforced apart by Allie’s parents,they eventually come to termswith their separation and moveon with their own lives.

While working as anurse for wounded soldiers

during WWII, Allie meets awealthy lawyer named LonHammond Jr. When theybecome engaged Allie isreminded of Noah. Her lifesoon turns into one faced withdifficult choices and emotions.

The film keeps theaudience at the edge of theirseats while awaiting Allie’sfinal decision of who she wantsto marry.

The Notebook, ratedPG-13, was released in 2004and is now on DVD. It becamea huge success. I liked the lovestory behind the film and it evenmade me shed a few tearsbecause it is very moving andmakes people realize that life isshort.

The Notebook showsviewers the true meaning oflove and how behind everygreat love is a great story.

The Notebook movie poster

Behind Every Great Love is a Great StoryBy: Taylor Beaulieu

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The movie Avatartakes place on the planet ofPandora, home to ten-foot bluecreatures called the Na’vi. Thehuman’s military arrive onPandora in the year 2150 withone thing in mind: to obtain asmuch of the valuable mineral onthe planet as possible.

On Pandora humanscannot breathe without oxygenmasks, so in order to travel theplanet freely, humans createdgenetic clones of the Na’vipeople called Avatars. The maincharacter, Jake Sully, is asked

to fill his twin brother’s role asan Avatar because his brotherdied during a battle on Pandora.

The purpose ofSully’s Avatar is to becomefamiliar with the Na’vi peoplein order to easily persuade themto move their home off thebiggest mineral deposit onPandora. However, the Na’vipeople do not like the humansand violence between the tworaces erupts.

While interacting withthe Na’vi people, Sully beginsto care for them, especially a

young Na’vi princess, who hefalls in love with. Despite therequest for more time to reachan agreement with the Na’vipeople from Sully, the humansdecide to attack the Na’vivillage.

Before the last epicbattle, Sully must decide whichrace he wants to fight with, thehumans or the Na’vi. Rated PG-13, Avatar is out now and canbe seen in theatres everywhere.To enhance your Avatarexperience, see the movie ineither 3-D or IMAX.

AvatarBy: Elijah Casey

A scene from the movie Avatar

The video game Callof Duty: Modern Warfare 2 issure to be this year’s best sellingvideo game. This game hasdefinitely lived up to the highexpectations with its newfeatures and new game modes.

Players are crazyabout Modern Warfare 2because of its features. Bycustomizing kill streaks, aplayer can unlock the mostunique reward, a Tactical Nuke,which allows players and the

team an instant win and kills allplayers on the map.

Another new feature isthe game mode, one of whichis Demolition, which allows oneteam to defend and the other toattack to plant a bomb. Allplayers attacking have a bomb,but after ten minutes if twobombs are not planted the teamdefending wins.

In Modern Warfare 2another stand-out feature is theability to play in third person,

while playing TeamDeathmatch or Capture theFlag.

While enjoying gamemodes such as TeamDeathmatch, Search andDestroy, or Headquarters, theplayer must be in game chat.This comes in handy when ateam needs to work together towin.

Call of Duty 5 Worldat War was disappointing tomost Call of Duty fans who

have the whole series becauseof its overpowered guns, butconsidering the new featuresand new guns that ModernWarfare 2 has, this game won’tdisappoint.

Modern Warfare 2,released November 10, 2009, israted Mature for kids 17 and up

due to intense violence,language, drug use, and blood.Developed by Infinity Ward andpublished by Activision, it costs$59.99 for the Play Station 3 orXbox 360. If into Call of Dutyand online combat, ModernWarfare 2 is a must-buy.Modern Warfare 2

By: Bhaumik Patel

Cover of Modern Warfare 2 4

Edition 2 Winter 2010

For many designers,fur is in, but for me it willalways be out. Fur coats andother fur clothing are inhumaneand cruel. Why would someonewant to wear an animal’s skin?If killing an animal to wear itsfur isn’t bad enough, how theranch owners and trapperscapture and keep the animalsbefore-hand is even crueler.

According to Fur isDead, a website, ranch-raised

Picture of a fur coat made from red fox fur

“Fur is Dead”By: Taylor Beland

Red fox

It may seem that it’s awaste of time to recycle or “gogreen,” but recycling will savethe Earth from dying in thefuture. Global warming is theEarth’s average temperatureincreasing, causing changes inthe climate. Climate change cancause a change in animalbehavior, mountain height, sealevels and the number ofwildfires.

There are many waysto “go green.” It doesn’t takemuch work; just a few simplechanges could benefit everyone.For instance, if everyone turnedtheir water off when brushinghis/her teeth, each person couldsave 1,200 gallons of water peryear.

According toGreenopolis.com, a “green”website that gives informationabout recycling, etc, thefollowing are five ways to begreen:

1. Use Less Water:Water heaters can be largeconsumers of energy in homes(second to the heating/coolingsystem). Try lowering thetemperature and using coldwater as often as possible. Ifyou must let the water run inorder to warm up, catch thewater in a bucket and use it towater plants. Cutting down onthe amount of water, especiallyhot water, use can conserveenergy and save money.

2. Drive Less: Takepublic transit, walk, bike,carpool, whatever the preferredmode of transportation, just

Recycle -- Go green --Save the Earth

Go Green to end Global WarmingBy: Amanda Kopiec

New Policy, new Problems? continued from page 1

5

drive less. If the reducedemissions aren’t enough tosway you, maybe the rising gasprices are.

3. Recycle More: Yourecycle, but how can you domore with it? Recycle anypackaging possible. It’s notrecyclable, see if it can bereused. When buying paperproducts, choose ones madefrom recyclable materials (forexample some commonrecyclables are: get tap waterfrom Brita to purify it or usingrechargeable batteries.)However, you can recycle morethan just paper, plastic, andaluminum. Donate your old cellphone and other electronics tocharities, or take it back to theretailer if they accept them.Bring old car batteries,antifreeze, and motor oil backto participating mechanics. Ifreusable grocery bags aren’tused, at least return plastic bagsto the grocery store or ask forpaper bags when checking out.Compost leftovers and leavegrass clippings on the lawninstead of bagging them. Also,think outside the box for largeritems, such as turning an old tireinto a tire swing. Pretty soon,there will be a smaller amountof garbage to put out on thecurb.

4. Plant a Tree: A goodway to give back to theenvironment is to plant a tree,or two or three. Planting a treewill give exercise, offersomething nice to look at, andgive a sense of

foxes are kept in cages that areonly 2.5 square feet in volume,with up to four other animalsper cage. Animals can suffer intraps for days, in excruciatingpain. One in four animals willchew their own leg off toescape, only to die several dayslater from blood loss, fever,gangrene, or predation (<http:/

/www.fu r i sdead .com/d idyouknow.asp>).

PETA (People for theEthical Treatment of Animals)say that people taking killinganimals to protect the fur to theextreme. Trappers will strangle,beat or stomp the animal todeath to protect the fur fromdamage. Animals on fur farmsare gassed, electrocuted,poisoned with strychnine, orhave their necks snapped. Themethods are not 100 percent

effective, however, sometimesthe animal will wake up whilebeing skinned. Some trappersand fur farm owners will skipthese steps and take the “easy”way out and just skin the pooranimal alive (<http://w w w . f u r i s d e a d . c o m /didyouknow.asp>).

The animals that gothrough this torture are living,breathing things; they can thinkand feel. Although they do itdifferently, animals walk and

communicate with each otherjust like humans. They alsoscream and cry when subjectedto pain and injury.

When people takeaway the life of an animal forsomething as insignificant as afur coat for fashion it is bad, butwhen they kill them in such acruel way it’s even worse.

Whenever I look at afur coat I can almost see whatthe animal had to go through,and I am totally against furbecause it is not fashionable towear murder.

accomplishment. Trees convertpollutants to pure oxygen andoffer a home to wildlife. Inaddition, depending upon whattype of tree chosen and whereit’s planted, the shade cangradually help cool a home, aswell as offer a perfect spot forrelaxing. If there is no space orresources available to plant atree, there are plenty oforganizations that acceptdonations and plant trees allover the world.

5. Encourage Others:One of the most helpful thingsyou can do is encourage othersto join the green effort. Even ifpeople do not start recycling orconserving energy in their ownhomes, telling others about theefforts might encourage them tomake good choices.

It doesn’t take much,but if everybody does their partto help the environment, soon

we will be living ina healthier,c l e a n e renvironment. Doyour part. Tell afriend, andeveryone willbenefit in the end.

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apology letter to the lunch lady,which could be more effective.”

Principal Jeff Newmansaid, “We do not supportstudents getting in the lunchladies’ faces.”

Some students are alsoconcerned about the healthissues that could be caused byputting everyone’s sweatshirtstogether, touching each other.

Delaney advised thatthe health concerns are not anissue. He said, “It’s the same asbeing on the bus or giving yourfriend a hug.”

A lunch staff membersaid, “I can live without [thepolicy] and I don’t like toenforce it; I’m just doing myjob.”

Newman said, “I thinkit’s perfectly reasonable toleave bags and coats.” He isopposed to making studentstake off their sweatshirts,however.

Officer Hale said,“Security cameras have beenasked for and will come in bynext week.”

Newman and otherstaff have worked together tofind new methods ofcontrolling the theft withouthaving to force people to takeoff their sweatshirts. Hesuggested ideas such as fewerstudents in the store at a timeand said that he’s prepared tohelp Whitson’s monitor thestore.

The meetingsproved to be a success, withthe current ruling of fewerstudents in the store and thestaff becoming more lenientwith the sweatshirt policy.

Edition 2 Winter 2010

“I love guns. I’m a gunnut.”

These are not thewords one would expect to hearfrom a Mass. state trooper. Yet,this is exactly the way JosephRisteen feels about guns.

“Of course, it’s ahealthy interest in guns,”Risteen said. “It’s possible tolike guns, but not behomicidal.” However,considering his career, thisobsession might be expected.

Risteen works in thefield of ballistics, which is “thescience of mechanics that dealswith the flight, behavior, andeffects of projectiles, especiallybullets, gravity bombs, rockets,or the like” (<http://e n . w i k i p e d i a . o r g / w i k i /Ballistics>).

In other words, if therewere to be another incident likethe Columbine shooting, hewould be the guy to call. “Thereare always police at a crimescene. In situations likeColumbine, we just have to dealwith it.”

Risteen has known hewanted to be in the business ofsaving lives since he was ayoung child. “When I was a kid,I wanted to do a couple ofdifferent things. I wanted to bea firefighter, state trooper, andwanted to deal with forensics,”he said. When he was in highschool, he narrowed his list tothe military before finallysettling on state trooper.

According to Risteen,the field of forensics was not aspopular as it is now. “CSIwasn’t around. It has brought arenewed interest to forensics,”Risteen said. According to him,the number of jobs available forforensics has not been able tokeep up with the recent interestin the subject.

Throughout hispresentation, Risteen passed outgun jackets, among otherobjects he comes across on adaily basis.

“It was reallyinteresting because I didn’tknow anything about thissubject. He delivered it in a waythat was easy to understand,”said Jen Tella (12). She is a

member of one of the forensicsclasses that attended theassembly.

Among other topics,Risteen explained that the lawsof physics still apply to guns.“Have any of you heard of theLaw of Conservation ofEnergy?” he asked during thepresentation. He thenproceeded to explain theimportance of the law in thecontext of weaponry, sayingthat the shots used in movies arenot realistic.

“Special effects haveasked us about guns,” Risteenconfessed. He then added thatthey usually reject the realisticapproach for something moreinteresting.

Risteen also providedthe audience with the truth, thatit’s “where you get shot, notwhat you’re shot with.” Beingshot in the chest, for instance,would be fatal compared togetting shot in the finger.

Yet, while the job of astate trooper may sound like anexciting episode of CSI: Miami,it’s not all fun and games. “Overthe last year or so, more policeofficers have committed suicidefrom the depression of doingtheir day-to-day business,”Risteen revealed.

“No one is happy tosee you because they are eithera victim, or a criminal, orsomeone who has been in aterrible accident. The day-to-day negativity is hard to dealwith,” he explained.

On a lighter note,Risteen provided much insightto those who attended. “I foundit interesting to see how oneshot could provide so muchdetail in a case,” said StephanieChaplin (12), a member of oneof the law classes that attended.

“He gave the studentsa more hands-on view of thetopic,” said Ms. Deanna Wells-Scott, forensics teacher at AHS.“I have already worked anotherpresentation into the schedulefor next year,” she added.

Being a state trooperhas its benefits and downfalls,but Risteen takes each day instride, because, as he said, “Ilove guns.”

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Recently, the AHSEnvironmental Club hosted abenefit concert for rainforestconservation and preservation.Not only did it fundraise to helpprotect important naturalresources and animal habitats,but it also showcased localbands, many of which includedAHS students.

Some of the acts thatplayed were: Bears on Wheels,Die Another Day, and ThermalAgony. Magical Music Band,winner of the 2009 AHS Battleof the Bands, headlined alongwith the band Jewel CityBastards.

The proceeds from theconcert were given to theRainforest Action Network(RNA), an environmentalorganization stemming fromCalifornia. With the money, theRNA will pay for rainforest land

to be protected from industriesthat would jeopardize theforest ecosystem, such aslumber and agriculture.

It is important toprotect rainforests because ofthe benefits they bestow uponthe world. The AmazonRainforest alone produces 20percent of the Earth’s oxygen.Also, some plants that areinvaluable to advances inmedicine are only found in therainforest ecosystem. Bydestroying the rainforest,humanity is shutting the dooron potential cures for presentday and future afflictions.

The concert was onDec. 22. Doors opened at 5p.m. and the show lastedroughly until 9 p.m. Ticketswere sold for $3 in advance andat the door for $5. Concessionswere also for sale, including

organic chocolate from EqualExchange.

Tyler Chauncey, the“main man and visionary” ofBears on Wheels commentedabout the show, “It was a funtime, plain and simple. Therewas a great atmosphere and thecrowd was there just to enjoymusic, so there was littlepressure.”

Alex Lozanski, anotherpatron of the concert said, “Iliked that I could go see andsupport some local bands andhelp a good cause at the sametime.”

Overall, the event wasa success. The EnvironmentalClub raised around $400 for theRNA. They also mentionedplans for another concert in thespring, to raise even moremoney to further their efforts fora better Earth.

Rock for TreesBy: Jesse Mallon

Forest in Mexico burned for agricultural land

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Basketball TryoutsBy: Elijah Casey

Last Fall AHSunderwent its varsity and juniorvarsity basketball tryouts. Thepotential team members beganthe day by gathering andlistening to Mr. Mark Houle,varsity basketball coach andathletic director, stress the

importance of certainexpectations for the basketballteam.

Houle told thehopefuls, “In order to make theteam it’s going to take hardwork.” After a slight jog and agood stretch, the easy parts of

the tryouts were over. Soon afterthe warm-up, players were putthrough intensive “foot fires,”defensive slides, ball handlingdrills, and shooting drills,leaving most extremely winded.After drills were completed,sprints were run by players to the

voice of Houle in thebackground yelling,“Let’s work! Let’swork.”

Players weregiven a three-minutewater break and thenasked to participate inmore exhausting drills.The drills consisted ofguarding the post,guarding wing players,guarding a pick and roll,and boxing out.

Next, playerswere broken up intoteams and asked toscrimmage. The pickup

Continued on page 9Basketball hoop in the gym where tryouts took place

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Editorials

Most how-to articlesrelate to topics such as how tobake a delicious apple pie orhow to build a bottle rocketusing household ingredients.Not being allowed near an ovenor dangerous chemicals, I can’thelp you with either of thoseactivities. I can, however,impart the wisdom I’vegathered over the years writingself-deprecating editorialsabout issues in society orchallenges in my own life.

I’ve found anunfaltering pattern in each ofmy opinion pieces. With a fewsimple steps, you, too, cancoherently express anyviewpoint in a sophisticated andrespectful manner.

Step one: findsomething to complain about.Sure, no one likes a whinycurmudgeon, but sometimes weall need to vent about anannoyance. A great opinionpiece should persuade itsaudience and rouse them to grabpitchforks and torches, andstorm to the town center todevise a rational and calmsolution to the problem.

Step two: once youhave a topic, develop anargument that encompassesyour feelings on the subject.Emotions can range fromexcitement to annoyance toblatant apathy, as long as youcan defend your beliefs. Try notto be hypocritical about yourtopic, but if you must, I adviseyou to add a disclaimer in yourarticle. (For example,“Warning: I like eggs, but I’mgoing to write about all thenegative aspects of theincredible edible food” is not anacceptable repudiation. Tryagain.)

Step three: findcredible examples to back upyour argument or position.Arguments will not be acceptedor considered unless they arelogical and have ample reasonsto prove their points.Alternatively, you may be able

to just ramble nonsensically,and if all else fails, useelaborate words and garrulous,loquacious sentences to createambiguity and confuse youraudience in an attempt toconvince them to believeanything you say.

Step four: compile allof your information together inlogical, coherent sentences.Nobody will listen to someonewho writes like a five-year-oldafter snack time. Unless you area five-year-old writing anopinion piece and work bestunder the influence ofprocessed sugar and applejuice. Then, kudos to you andyour prodigious ingenuity.

Step five: add a touchof humor or sarcasm to keepthings interesting. This is, ofcourse, optional, as is the restof this article. By no means isthis a credible source. (I thinkthat was established when Iimplied a bottle rocket wasmade using harmful chemicals.)

The parentheses segueto my next suggestion — addinteresting asides that sort ofrelate to your point but arereally just there for a touch ofhumor or to quiet the crazyvoices in your head that wantto vent their own opinions. (I’mjust kidding, there are no voices— yes there are — shhh, nothere are not.)

All humor aside,editorials must have a purpose,and adding a more serious sideto your case may help accent themain argument. Whichevermethod you choose to use —humor, seriousness, orconfusion — remember to berespectful to your audience andabout your subject, no matterhow angry you are or how muchyou disagree with others’beliefs.

If none of the abovesuggestions work, try renting aplane to write your message inthe sky. It may be expensive, butit’s sure to attract someattention.

Edition 2 Winter 2010

A Frustrated Writer

How to Write an EditorialBy: Melanie Thibeault

I can still remembermy first day of high school,feeling as if I didn’t fit in. Iwoke up before my sistersbecause they were still fortunateenough to be in middle school.I was terrified and feltcompletely alone.

All of my friendsseemed as if they were happyto leave the comfort of middleschool and conquer thechallenges of high school. I, onthe other hand, would have beenhappy to fail eighth grade andstay inside of its secure wallsforever.

After coming homefrom school that first day, I feltoverwhelmed. Iwas already up tomy neck inhomework. I hadnever playedsports everydayafter school beforeand I was notaware of the timeit would take awayfrom doinghomework.

F a s tforward fouryears. I am now asenior, wiser andmore experienced,ready to take on the world ofcollege.

My attitude hascompletely changed. I have metmore friends than I everimagined I would and I havelearned more about life andmyself as a result of someamazing teachers.

High school has goneby faster than expected. As afreshman, I couldn’t wait for itto end. As a senior, I wish I hadmore time.

With each tradition Iexperience, I know it’s my lastchance to do so — last spiritrally, last field hockey banquet,last report card. Every event hasthe same feeling of finality.

A part of me isextremely grateful to be leaving

Attleboro. The world seems tobe calling my name, begging meto fulfill my lifelong dream oftraveling abroad and learn whatit feels like to live in a townother than the one I’ve lived inmy entire life.

I want to have a jobthat I enjoy until I’ve decidedit’s time to retire. Growing upand starting a family are alsopost-high school goals I’ve setfor myself.

However, high schoolwas not something I would evertake back. I’ve learned moreabout myself in these four yearsthan any other point in my life.Friends, boyfriends, stress, time

management, and even deathhave all caused me to altermyself and figure out what mylimits are.

Until my junior year,I didn’t realize I could stayawake working on a project pastthree in the morning and stillfunction, albeit barely, the nextday at school.

Junior year is also theyear I learned how to balancesports, extracurricularactivities, work, friends, andfamily. It was tough, but after acouple of “crying sessions,” Ihad it down to a science. (Well,maybe not quite, but I wasclose.)

My teachers have eachplayed a part in my experienceas well. I have learned

everything from how to createa thesis to finding the derivativeof a mathematical function.

I have experienced theinfamous SAT, and lived to tellabout it, which is something Ididn’t think was possible. I caneven say I survived AP tests,which I didn’t know existedbefore high school.

I have watched myfriends grow up alongside me,reaching life milestones alongthe way. Learning to drive andturning into a legal adult areboth events that have made merealize that no one can escapethe oncoming challenge of life.

My friends and I arestill awaiting ournext milestone —graduation. Yet, Iknow I won’t haveto wait long becausemy experiences inthe last four yearshave taught me lifeonly moves forward.There’s no rewindbutton and noslowing down. Lifeonly moves in onedirection, and seemsto move faster astime goes on.

I know I amfar from sagacious, but I can sayI am more experienced than Iwas four years ago, and withthis experience, I would like toshare something with my fellowseniors.

No matter what youwant to do with your life afterhigh school, whether it be jointhe army or go to college oranything in between, you mustalways remember this: thejourney of life is full of bumpsand bruises, ups and downs, joyand anguish. However, onething is certain: high schoolonly comes once in a lifetime,and once it’s over, it’s goneforever.

So, make the best ofthese last few months, andwhatever you do, don’t lookback.

Confessions of a Graduating SeniorBy: Samantha Wood

This past summer, Ifinally caved in to my friends’pestering and created aFacebook account. After yearsof ignoring the hype aboutsocial networking, I decided tobecome a member of thealternate Internet universe andwhat a different and scary worldit is. I had no idea what I wasmissing, and perhaps it was bestI was not aware of the seedyhappenings of the web. Alas, itis too late to turn back now, soinstead I will share my journeywith anyone who will continuereading.

When I first made upmy mind to create a Facebookprofile, I was quite excited; onecould argue almost giddy,though I usually only growgiddy after seeing Santa at themall or when a new episode ofiCarly is premiering. Even ifI’ve grown up in the socialnetworking word, I still havethe right to be a teenage girl,thank you.

Anyway, I was soexcited that I stayed up late tocreate a profile, which for me,consisted of picking a pictureof myself in which I looked

semi-normal, so as not to scareaway potential friends. Whenthat failed, I settled on a picturewhere I appeared practicallycomatose, and to which myfriend posted she could see upmy nose. Perfect. Subsequentpictures then included medressed as a pirate and one as aninja. (That whole “normal”thing never happened.)

After the picturefiasco, I searched for friends,rather stalkerishly I might add,and sent out a million and one

Facebook FrenzyBy Melanie Thibeault

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Being a senior, I havespent the last year traveling tocolleges around the country andlearning all there is to knowabout each. I have flownhalfway across the U.S. toChicago, Ill., and have taken theshort drive to Hartford, Conn.,in an attempt to determinewhere I would like to spend thenext four years of my life.

While engaging inthese travels, I came to therealization that college is goingto be one of the mostexhilarating experiences I willever encounter.

I clearly rememberwalking down the streets ofEvanston, on the outskirts ofNorthwestern University, whenI had my epiphany. “I know whyso many people enjoy college,”I told my dad, who was walkingalong beside me.

“Why is that?” heasked.

“Well, because there isno other place in the worldwhere people are given theexpanse of opportunitiesavailable to them in college.”Concerts at reduced studentprices, highly respected andotherwise hard-to-get speakers,and sports that were previouslyonly found in movies (yes, they

do have Quidditch in multipleuniversities across the country,226 to be exact) are among themany phenomena studentsencounter while in college.

It’s also a chance forstudents to meet the friends theywill have for the rest of theirlives and a time to reinventthemselves if they wish. It’s afresh start and an opportunity todiscover one’s self.

Some people don’trealize their potential until theyarrive at college. They’re putinto situations that they wouldnever have encountered on theirown and pushed to their limits,proving they are smarter thanthey originally thought.

The professors of eachclass are experts in theirindividual fields, and many havealready published work.Students are given the privilegeof meeting with theseprofessionals every week.Professors are willing to helpeach student and offer officehours during which the studentsreceive personalized help.

School spirit in highschool cannot compare in anyway to the spirit found incollege. Division I sportingevents are usually televised onthe sports network and games

are oftentimes sold out. Thestadiums found at eachuniversity put the AHS gym toshame. Going to a collegefootball game is like going to aPatriots game, but lessexpensive.

Living away fromhome is another step on thepathway to adulthood. Livingwith my friends is something Ihave wanted to do since I hadmy first sleepover in elementaryschool. Granted, there is noguarantee that I’ll get along withmy roommate, but from whatI’ve heard, that doesn’t seem tobe a huge problem for people.

Proving to my parentsI can survive on my own is hardto do, and I have to admit thatI’m a little scared, but it’s partof life. Children grow up andrealize they don’t need theirparents all the time. Somepeople opt to stay close to home,but I don’t think I’ll have aproblem with moving far away.Now is the perfect time for meto travel the country while I’mstill young.

This brings me to mynext favorite aspect of college— studying abroad. The chanceto study in a foreign country isone of the most amazingopportunities I plan to take

advantage of in college. I havealways wanted to travel theworld and learn about differentcultures and lifestyles. Collegegives me the chance to do thiswhile still earning credit that canbe transferred back overseas.

High school has beengreat fun, but I’m ready to moveon to a whole new experience. Ihave learned everything I canfrom my teachers and parents,and now it’s time for me to take

this knowledge to a place I’venever been before. College maybe expensive, but it’s a price Iam willing to pay on the way toa higher education.

An acceptance letter isan invitation to the rest of life. Ihave no idea where I will be atthis time next year or who I’llbe living with. I do know,however, that no matter where Iam, it will be an experience likeno other.

Acceptance letter from Harvard

http://www.wiruch.com/fon01/harvard%27s%20acceptance%20letter.jpg

AcceptedBy: Samantha Wood

Edition 2 Winter 2010

Home Page of Facebook.com

8

friend requests. I was soenergized that night, wonderingwho had accepted my requests,that I slept about six hoursbefore waking up extra early toturn on my computer. Only thendid I realize in the time Iattempted to sleep, only twopeople had logged on andaccepted; the rest were stillcomfortably asleep till noon.

Thus, my honeymoonwith Facebook soon ended. Thefirst major problem occurredwhen I logged on to check mye-mail messages. Apparently,there is a setting on the websiteto turn off receiving e-mailnotifications. If you do not clickthis, Facebook will send amessage every time a personaccepts your friend request,sends a friend request, posts amessage to your Wall, or leavesa comment on anything youwrite or any picture you post.When I tried to log on the nextnight, I was greeted with 60 newmessages; that is, after mycomputer took five minutes toload all the new mail.

I’ve discovered thenotifications on my Facebookhomepage can also beannoying. After logging in andfinding 20 new notifications, itis quite a spirit-breaker todiscover 19 of these arecomments from strangers whovoiced their opinions on thesame picture or status Icommented on previously.Most likely that last commentwill be someone liking a statusor sending me a hug, which Ihave yet to figure out how toreceive and open. Sorry if I

offended anyone by ignoringyour act of kindness; it’snothing personal, just myineptness with a computer.

Other nuisances arethe friend requests, which canbe somewhat awkward. Manytimes a person will request tobe friendseven if youhave notmet them,s i m p l yb e c a u s eyou havem u t u a lfriends orattend thes a m eschool. Thetruly boredpeople insearch ofamusementwill sendf r i e n drequests topeople whohave thesame nameas them inan attempt to create a Facebookalliance and then take over theworld.

As for others onFacebook, I’ve noticed severaldifferent types of socialnetworkers. There are thefriends who share every detailof their lives with humanity byupdating their status every thirtyseconds. They often repeat thesame thing eight times but witha different variation, which toothers, or at least me, isannoying to see on theNewsfeed. (I understand you’re

excited about your new petferret but unfortunately, ormaybe fortunately, the majorityof the world doesn’t feel thesame way.)

At the other extreme,there are people who never posta status or update their profiles,

making you wonder if theyactually ever log on. Thesefolks make me wish I had theirwill-power instead of feelingthe compulsion to check myaccount every day without fail.

Another part of mydislike with Facebook is theinformation I receive frompeople’s statuses and profiles.The news I discover makes mefeel like quite a stalker. I canfind out who is in a relationshipwith who, who is now single,who is hanging out with whomtomorrow and where they aregoing, and who is in a fight with

whom. These are things I don’tneed or want to know. (I knowwhat you’re thinking: then don’tread it; however, it’s hard toavoid when it’s on myhomepage glaring at me eachtime I log in.)

In addition to communi c a t i n gw i t hp e o p l eon l ine ,Facebooka l s os u c k sp o o rs o u l si n t oapplica-t i o n s ,w h i c hinclude aplethoraof crazyquizzes,such as“ W h a trandomo b j e c tam I?”

For the record, I am apen, which I suppose is fittingfor a writer. (Perhaps Facebookknows more about my life thanI suspected.)

There is also anapplication called FarmVille, inwhich I assume people createfarms and then work on them.I’m not quite sure what goes onother than some animalsbecome lost and people winribbons. Whatever shenanigansoccur, I refuse to be sucked intosuch time-consuming craziness!There are also flair and bumperstickers, which have

inspirational or amusingsayings and can be sent andreceived by friends. These I willadmit are quite entertaining, butafter spending an hour or solooking through them, I feelunaccomplished and emptyinside.

As for Facebook Chat,that is a downgrade from anyInstant Messenger service. Itallows friends who are onlineto talk back-and-forth, but itoften freezes or losesconnection, thus ruiningfriendly or importantconversations. In its defense,however, I will point out that thesender can create funny littlecreatures, such as a shark orpenguin, using key codes. (Thecode: (^^^) creates a friendlyshark icon. Try it.)

While I just thor-oughly complained about thewebsite, I do think it is a greatway to stay in touch with familyand friends, especially thosewho live far away or are off atcollege. Despite that, I still thinkthe best and most rewardingform of communication isspeaking with people in personand spending time with themwithout employing any means oftechnology. If that fails or isimpossible to execute, then byall means, use Facebook Chatand spend hours sending robotsand penguins back and forth. Ifnothing else, you will both beamused for hours. Trust me.

Winter 2010Edition 2

Texting in class isn’tacceptable but students shouldbe able to have some time inschool to text. When studentstext in class it’s disturbing toother students. However, ifstudents could text during the15 minutes of SSR during lunchwhile everyone is eating, andduring passing time, theywouldn’t be disturbing anyone.The administration could alsoallow texting in the halls.

When students are introuble for texting it’s not whatteens want; students just wantto be able to have some time totalk with friends in private. Forexample, during lunch timestudents are not in a classroom,they should have the right totext. The problem is teachersdon’t know if their students aretexting other students indifferent classes. If thosestudents are caught texting, theyshould receive referrals.

Secret texting

Texting in ClassBy: Talitha Vidinha

Teachers and manystudents believe texting inschool is distracting. However,I believe that in addition to sixhours of desk work, studentsshould be able to have sometime to socialize because schoolshould be fun as well aseducational.

Students know thatafter school there’s time to textand talk, but what if we forgota sweatshirt in a classroom andyou know that your friend hasthat class next, you could textthem, and ask them to get it; thatway you don’t have to be lateto class.

Texting in schoolcould be scheduled into the dayas a limited social time.

Being able to textcould help if something were tohappen. For example, if youwere a part of the sports teamand need to know what time andplace practice is going to be on

that day. If you needed to knowsomething about what wasgoing on in the school, such asa sign-up, texting is a way toask. It’s easy and fast and couldhelp out a lot of people.

The administrationhas the authority to offer textingduring SSR, lunch time andpassing time in the hallways.During class teachers could askstudents to take out their phonesand turn them off in front of theteachers when “texting time” isover.

But there are alwaysthose students who don’tcooperate with the rules. Thoseare the students who should getin trouble. Students should behappy if the rules were changesso they can text in school. Theyshouldn’t take advantage of itbecause then students wouldlose thisopportunity.

Presents wrapped for the holidays

Christmas Do’s and Don’ts:Holiday Recap

By: Jesse Mallon

With the holidayscoming to a close, and a newyear beginning it is importantto embrace those same ideas ofa warm home and a charitableheart.

It is also important toremember a few other things,such as not buying a youngerfamily member something thatcan make loud noises andcombine that with sugar andcandy from their stocking.Many people struggle with whatto buy people for seasonal gift-giving, and whether the excuseis “It’s a gag gift,” or “It waslast minute and stores wereswamped,” the male recipientof reindeer print socks still feelsthe same (Thanks by the way).

The best gift idea iscash or a prepaid Visa. It’sflexible with many possibleuses, nourishes the freedom forone to buy what they want, and

has a more positive receptionthan mints and a free trip to thedentist.

Holiday dinner is agreat time to bring peopletogether; until somebody’smashed potatoes go from theirspoon to somebody else’sforehead. Best keep theslapstick comedy out of thedining room.

Grievances aside, it isimportant to enjoy the companyin which one spends theirholidays; remember the lovesomebody wraps up with thegifts they give, not necessarilythe gift itself. Regardless ofwhat holiday is beingcelebrated, the important thingis to enjoy them; they only comeonce a year. Speaking of years,welcome to 2010. Make thisfirst step into a new decadeprosperous and happy, andremember those resolutions!

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Have you ever walkedinto a pet shop and thought“How much is that puppy in thewindow?” Did you ever stop tothink where that puppy camefrom or where its parents areright now? The answer to thosequestions is a puppy mill.

Wikipedia defines apuppy mill as “a commercialdog breeding facility that isoperated with an emphasis uponprofits above animal welfareand is often under substandardconditions ignoring the well-being of dogs in their care”(<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppy_mill>).

Basically, it’s a placewhere dogs are crammed intosmall cages and over bred.

Adopt, don’t ShopBy: Taylor Beland

According to K9-Lifeline Corporation, millowners don’t care about dogs’well-being. For example, a dogcan be debarked. This processincludes “ramming a steel roddown a young puppy’s throat.This severes the vocal chordsand/or destroys the voice box,thus leaving the dog‘barkless’.”(<http: //www.k9lifeline.ca/PMills.html>). It issaid that 98 percent of pet storesbuy their dogs from puppymills.

A Debby’s Petlandemployee said, “They buy theirpuppies from United StatesDepartment of Agriculture(USDA) certified breeders from

all around the country.” Sheadded,” They are against puppymills.”

However, USDAcertified breeders are puppymills. A USDA license meansnothing. It’s just permissionfrom the government to massproduce puppies to be sold atpet stores. The next time a petstore says that they buy theirpuppies from USDA certifiedbreeders, they’re really sayingthey purchase their puppiesfrom puppy mills according to(<http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/act-c-puppymills-fs-1.html>).

People don’t want tosupport puppy mills, however,they don’t know where else tobuy dogs. The answer is simple.

Puppies can be purchased froma local pet shelter or from ananimal rescue.

The Attleboro AnimalShelter, located on Pond St., thePawtucket Animal Shelter,located in Slater Park or eventhe Rhode Island Society for thePrevention of Cruelty toAnimals (RISPCA) havepuppies available.

RISPCA has about 30dogs up for adoption right now.For more information visit< h t t p : / / w w w. p a w t u c k e tanimalshelter.org> or <http://www.rispca.com/sitemap.html>.

A lot of people thinkshelters have only mutts andmixed breeds, however, one outof four dogs in a shelter is a

pure bred (< http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/ >).

By looking at a coupleof shelters, people will be ableto find the dog/puppy they’relooking for without supportingand financing puppy mills.Asked what advice she wouldgive to a person debating to buya puppy or adopt one, an animalcontrol officer from Pawtucketsaid “I would definitely tell theperson to adopt a dog.”

Linda, an employeefrom the RISPCA said, “We[the employees of the RISCPA]are against puppy mills, theybreed constantly, they’re notgood and you get many sickanimals from them.”

Adopting from a sheltercan save a lifeand poten-tially putpuppy millsout ofbusiness.

So,please, save alife.Adopt... don’t shop.

Dogs in cages at a puppy mill

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games were competitive andwere played at an extremelyquick pace. Coaches sat andwatched on the sidelinesoccasionally writing somethingdown on their paper.

Finally, tryouts endedwith more defensive slides tostress the importance of defenseon the players. Houle said, “Ifwe want to win games, we haveto be a solid defensive team.”

Once the finallydefensive slides were over,everyone bought it andcollectively chanted, “Hardwork.”

Two days later theteams were made. The varsitybasketball team consists of: J.JJolaoso (10), Bestlee Vazquez(11), Abiola Aborishade (12),Kebba Nasso (11), JoeNarkiewicz (11), MahlikJohnson (11), Nate Robitaille(11), Anthony Watson (12),Stephen Edmonds (10), TimFlynn (11), Shawn Silva (11),and Matt Cambell (12). TheBombardiers took flight againsttheir long time rival BishopFeehan High School onDecember 14, 2009.

Basketball Tryouts continued from page 6

Editorials, cont.

Edition 2 Winter 2010

There should be awarning sticker given to everyhigh school student the first dayof his or her senior year:Caution! You have a maximumof three months determinationand concentration left beforeyour brain shuts downcompletely for a hibernationperiod of six months or until thefirst semester of college begins.Then, maybe some of us wouldhave been more prepared forthe horrible condition ofsenioritis that has begun tospread like elementary-schoolcooties.

Every high schoolstudent, except maybe somefreshmen, claims to suffer fromthis mind-numbing, soul-wrenching disease. Even I, as asophomore, wrote an articlewarning about it, but I was amere child then, oblivious to thetrue horrors that come withsenioritis. Sophomores andjuniors have mere tastes of theI-can’t-focus, I-don’t-want-to-work-on-this-anymore attitude,but the full storm doesn’t arriveuntil seniors walk through themenacing doors on the first dayafter summer vacation.

School is not soatrocious the first couple ofweeks. The schoolwork relievesmany seniors of the boredomthey endured over the summer.After classes become routine,approximately two months intothe year, senioritis strikes,praying on the weakest, mostfrustrated students first andeventually breaking its way intothe minds of even the most goal-oriented, enthusiastic students.

First, seniors becomelazy and unmotivated tocomplete homeworkassignments, especially longeressays and research papers,when they also have to writecollege application essays.(Because, really, how many ofus were motivated enough towrite them over the summer?)

Pushing work offuntil the last minute and stayingup late or even pulling all-nighters is common. Eventually,after the tedious repetition ofassignments, all motivation is

lost and students feel nocompulsion to complete theseassignments, which is an unwisedecision, since grades begin todrop.

Any activity becomesmore appealing to a high schoolsenior as long as it is not relatedto a school project. Watchingpaint dry or grass grow, findinga needle in a massive haystack,counting ceiling tiles andsimultaneously twiddling one’sthumbs, and staring at one’sshoes are all much moreenjoyable activities thansuffering through classes andhomework.

Along with thereluctance to do any sort ofwork, senioritis has anothereffect that only shows up duringsenior year: the ants in the pantscomplex. Before senior year,students tolerated (and possiblyeven enjoyed) their classes andmerely complained about thework to be done outside ofschool.

During senior year,students can no longer standclass time and find it extremelydifficult to sit in a chair and payattention for however longclasses last. Glancing at theclock every five minutes andstaring at it in an attempt toforce time to move morequickly are both commonpractices by seniors. The urgeto jump up in the middle of classand take a stroll down thehallway and possibly out thedoor and into one’s car alsooccurs on an almost-daily basis.

That is not to say thatseniors no longer enjoy theirclasses. To the contrary, I stillfind several of my classesinteresting and worthwhile.However, senioritis preys on theweary mind and has a nastyhabit of sometimes overcomingthe passion and enthusiasmsome students feel toward theirclasses.

Senioritis is fueled bysleep deprivation, so the less astudent sleeps from staying uplate to do work, the more theirmotivation dwindles and thelonger it takes to completeassignments. Thus, the student

feels even less motivated towork. It is a horrible cycle,whose only treatments includemassive amounts of caffeine orprotestation to the governmentto lengthen the amount of hoursin a day.

I have just beeninformed that the first optionmay have some seriousunconstructive side effects,such as being overlyhyperactive or jittery, extremealertness and attention to detail,and the sudden urge to have aspontaneous dance party. (I seeno offense with the latter.)

Picketing outside theWhite House to lengthen thatinconvenient 24-hours-in-a-daytradition may not producedesired results, unless saidresults include being chasednine blocks by the SecretService for refusing to leave thegrounds. (Apparently, it is nota protest if you are the only onestanding on the White Houselawn holding a sign; it is thenconsidered trespassing.)

Since these optionshave failed, I don’t think I haveany adequate advice for highschool seniors other than tohang in there like that cutekitten falling out of a tree onthose cheesy Hallmark cards.We only have five months untilgraduation, so don’t give up onall that hard work you’vecompleted these past three anda half years.

As I sit here injournalism class, spinning incircles on my chair, I find that Ican no longer concentrate onwriting this article. (Flashforward one week: I am nowcontinuing this paragraph andthe paragraphs in the middle, allwhile spinning in my computerchair at home.)

Don’t worry; the ironyof the situation is not lost uponme. I have maintained someknowledge from previous andcurrent classes and I haven’tlost all of the passion that drivesme to try and succeed — just amajority of it, which I know willsomehow find its way back tome before college begins.

Senioritis Strikes AgainBy: Melanie Thibeault

Not even fieldtrips keep seniors awake

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For most teenagers,turning 18 is a huge deal. Itsymbolizes a transformationfrom carefree childhood to theresponsible world of adulthood,even though most teenagers feelthe burden of responsibilityprior to turning the big one-eight.

For teenagers at least,each birthday brings new andexciting activities andresponsibilities for them toseize. For example, at sixteen,most teens start driving lessons.Eighteen, however, is the mostanticipated birthday, as it opensmany doors of opportunitypreviously shut and locked toteenagers.

Eighteen-year-oldsare legally allowed to do manythings younger teens are not.They can buy cigarettes andlottery tickets, as well as a freepass to nicotine or gamblingaddictions. (The latter mayprove to be an issue for me, as Ienjoy the suspense of scratchtickets more than one should.)

Granted more civicresponsibilities, eighteen-year-olds are allowed to: vote, ownand operate firearms, holdproperty, become organ donors,enlist in the military and are ofthe age required to serve on ajury. As another step intoadulthood, eighteen-year-oldsare now criminally charged inan adult court rather than in ajuvenile court.

The above actions allrequire a certain level ofmaturity and consideration thatnot all younger teens possess.While they are expected to takeon a higher level ofaccountability, eighteen-year-olds are also given severalprivileges. Age 18 is the legalage when one can get a tattooor a body piercing without

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Growing Up is Hard to DoBy: Melanie Thibeault

parental consent. I don’t thinkI’ll be practicing either of theseactivities to celebrate mynewfound adulthood, however.Any activity involving sharppointy objects is not what I calla good time.

There is anotheropportunity given to new adults.They can now ordermerchandise from those cheesy,obnoxious infomercials. Neverbefore could they pick up thephone and order a fancyleopard-printed Snuggie tokeep them warm whilewatching more infomercials at3 a.m. Personally, I would liketo also order a BeDazzler toglam up my Snuggie and be thesnazziest college student in mydorm next year.

While turning 18 hasproven to be an exciting andlong-anticipated event, I findsomething melancholy aboutthe experience. Sure, I’m eagerto practice my newfoundprivileges and responsibilities.I look forward to having apolitical voice and exerting myopinions with the right to vote.As I’ve already mentioned, Iwill enjoy buying my firstscratch ticket and will love iteven more if it pays off mycollege bills for the next fouryears. (I can only hope.)

The transformationfrom child to adult does notautomatically happen when onewakes up on his eighteenthbirthday. That metamorphosisoccurs throughout adolescence.Levels of knowledge, maturityand responsibility are createdand augmented differently foreach person depending on hisor her experiences.

Some adolescents maybe more mature than othereighteen-year-olds while some

10Continued on page 11

eighteen-year-olds may stillpossess childish attitudesequivalent to twelve-year-olds.Whatever the case may be, thereis still an implication thatturning 18 means adulthood hasbeen reached. Herein lies mygrievance.

I have seen the realworld, and it is as terrifying asembarking on a single-handedmission to save the world froman impending detonation ofnuclear weapons. There aremany controversial andimportant issues occurring inthe world right now, and theidea that my generation willsoon be in charge of dealingwith them is a bitoverwhelming.

To think that I mighthave a part in shaping the futureis crazy. Just a few years ago, Iwas boarding the school bus,carrying my Disney lunchboxand playing kickball at recess.Now, in a few years, I will havegraduated from college and willhopefully have a respectablecareer. When did that happen?

Of course, I’m thrilledto start a new chapter in my life,but to see another one close isstill disheartening. In the mostliteral sense, my childhood hasended forever, but I refuse toaccept that. I will not saygoodbye to those sillychildhood games and fancies.They are the things that havekept me (and probably mypeers) sane throughout theyears.

What is a futurewithout the dreams I learned tocreate as a child? The only wayI see myself succeeding in life

Edition 2 Winter 2010

Growing Up is Hard to Do continued from page 10

is to keep creating far-fetchedgoals and dreams. What is lifewithout those dorky,entertaining, stress-relievingtimes? I still plan to break outmy aged, beaten-up Razorscooter and take a ride downMemory Lane, and I willcontinue to challenge myfriends to intense air hockeycompetitions.

So, to all of thoseconflicted eighteen-year-oldswho are in the same boat as me(whether it be a newfangledeco-friendly boat of the futureor a plastic toy battleship fromthe past), I have one last thingto say. There are no rewind,pause or fast-forward buttons inlife. We are all growing up, andthe only way to act is toembrace the changes that lifedeals without forgetting thelessons from our past.

While we are nowadults, we shouldn’t forget thepositive aspects of childhood —the innocence, the kindness, thesimple pleasures, the fun andgames and the willingness tolearn and grow. We should carrythese things with us into thesubsequent chapters of our livesand not stress over increasingresponsibilities.

Eighteen is merely anumber, not a life sentence. Ifwe can balance work and play,we should all be successful inwhatever challenges life throwsour way. So don’t sweat overentering adulthood, and don’tworry about losing thosechildhood pleasures. Combinethe two, have a little faith andwelcome the experiences thatlie ahead.

At Burger King youcan have it your way. AtMcDonald’s you’ll love it. AtWendy’s it’s not just fast food.When you’re hungry and don’tfeel like cooking or sitting downat a restaurant, deciding onwhich place to go can be hard.Burger King is the best choice.

Burger King has awide selection of food. Theyoffer variations of salads,chicken sandwiches, burgers,and even Hershey’s SundaePies for dessert. Burger Kingalso has cherry Icees, whichWendy’s and McDonald’s don’thave. For breakfast, biscuitsandwiches and mini hashbrowns are available. The BKBurger Shots are fairly new tothe Burger King menu and areavailable in packages of two fora dollar, or six package mealsfor $5.

Burger King is knownfor its Whoppers and WhopperJrs., which are very popular.The commercials show peoplegetting angry because BurgerKing has stopped makingWhoppers for a day.Whoppers are also healthierthan Big Macs fromMcDonald’s and the Baconatorfrom Wendy’s. The Baconatoris a whopping 970 calories andthe Big Mac is 540, whileWhopper Jrs., are only 370calories with the full Whoppersrolling in at 670 calories.

The Burger King isBurger King’s mascot andchildren receive crowns on theirbirthdays. McDonald’s mascotis Ronald McDonald and he cansometimes scare children,especially if they have a fear ofclowns. Wendy’s mascot is a

plain little red-headed girlnamed Wendy.

Burger King recentlyremolded its facilities aroundthe country, so it’s more up-to-date. Customers can now watchone of the new wide screentelevisions while they eat theirfavorite menu items.

Customers also havethe option of personalizing theirmeals anyway they want. On thecups it says, “Maybe you wanta little ice, maybe you want alot. Maybe you want to mixcoke and sprite, you can have itany way you want it.” Mostpeople want the option ofchoosing how they want theirmeal. The best choice of thethree restaurants is Burger Kingbecause “you can have it yourway.”

Burger King Logo

Have it your WayBy: Taylor Beland

Wendy’s, a fast foodchain commonly known to bethe healthiest out of other fastfood restaurants such as BurgerKing or McDonalds, hascertainly stood up to its nameover the years. The quality oftheir food is unparalleled, andas their burgers and fries havegained notoriety, so have theirnumber of restaurants.

In fact, in the Zagat’s2009 Fast Food Survey,Wendy’s scored very high

among the “45 Fast FoodChains, 30 Full Service Chainsand 28 Quick RefreshmentChains.”

Zagat’s awardedWendy’s the “#1 Mega Chain”in the categories of “Best Food,Best Facilities, and TopOverall.” Wendy’s was alsoawarded second for “MostPopular and Healthy Options”in their new wave of healthychoices and ranked “in the topfive for Best Grilled Chicken,

Best Fish, Best Fries, BestMilkshake, Best Value and BestValue Menu” (<http://www.wendys.com/news/news/index.jsp?news=19>).

Wendy’s was voted bypeople across the world forbeing the best in the mostimportant categories. But sowhat? What makes them sospecial?

Wendy’s also excels inlessening the calorie value oftheir sandwiches while stillretaining flavor. Their typicaldouble cheeseburger, theDouble Stack, contains 360calories and 18 grams of fat.

On the other hand,McDonalds’ DoubleCheeseburger contains 440calories and 23 grams of fat,while Burger King’s Double

Cheeseburger contains 510calories and 29 grams of fat.Although all of these burgerscost $1.05 by themselves,Wendy’s gives customers less ofwhat they don’t want, while stillmaintaining its high standardsof taste.

At the same timethough, Wendy’s also givescustomers a better value fortheir money. The cup size fortheir large drink holds 40 fluidounces, while the large cup sizefor McDonalds holds only 32fluid ounces. Although thesedrinks are offered with thepurchase of many of the mealsat either restaurant, andtherefore priced the same,Wendy’s is able to provide theircustomers more value whilestill keeping costs low.

Another of Wendy’smost appetizing features is theirarray of side dishes, such ashomestyle chili, signaturefrench fries, mandarin oranges,an array of salads, and bakedpotatoes with sour cream orother condiments.

With more than 6,600fully functioning restaurantsworldwide, there’s always aWendy’s close by.

With its theme as anold-timey restaurant, asignature symbol of a redheaded little girl and anincredible attention to detailsupported by citizens all acrossthe world, Wendy’s fast foodchain certainly stacks up to andgoes way beyond that of otherfast food restaurants.

Way Better than Fast FoodBy: Gabe Amatruda

Wendy’s Logo

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Some of us love it. Some of us loathe it. Some of uscould care less.

What is this phenomenon that causes so many mixedemotions? It can only be Valentine’s Day, a day in which couplescan bask in their glory and singles can shy away from any socialcontact while they brood over their “misfortune.”

Yet, Valentine’s Day was not meant to cause this kind ofan outbreak. There are many beliefs about the origin of Valentine’sDay, which all include the legend of Saint Valentine. One storyconsists of his heroic attempts to rescue Christians from the harshconfinement of the Roman prisons. Some storytellers believe whilein prison, he wrote the first “valentine” to the jail keeper’s daughter,signing it “From your Valentine.”

I may be crazy, but I don’t see any part of this historyindicating the holiday is for couples only. It’s a day to show aloved one some appreciation for everything they have done, andthis loved one could be a best friend, a sister, brother, or parent. Itdoesn’t have to be from a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Personally, I like to dedicate the day to my mom becauseit’s also the day she was born. This could be why I’ve neverconsidered the holiday a “couples-only” one.

I was working on Valentine’s Day last year and don’tregret it. A couple of my friends came in and told me they wereeach other’s valentines. Of course, they were only kidding, but Idon’t understand the joke. It seemed perfectly rational to me thatthe two of them would be bringing the other out on a day that wasdedicated to love. The love of a friendship cannot be overlooked.At times, it can be stronger than the romantic love found in movies.

This year, I will be on vacation in Vermont during thiscontroversial day, but I still plan on taking my valentine to themovies. (Ironically, we will be going to the movie ����������� ���.)We are not going to sit at home, stuffing our faces with chocolateand Ben and Jerry’s ice cream (well, we might, but just becausethat’s what girls do at sleepovers) and lament over the fact that weare both single.

Valentine’s Day is not a day meant to depress or ostracize.Rather, it is a day to show loved ones how much they areappreciated. So, in the words of Beyoncé, “All the single ladiesput your hands up,” (and single boys too) and celebrate Valentine’sDay the way it should be — with a loved one, whether it’s aboyfriend or girlfriend or just a friend.

Happy Valentine’s Day

�����, ����� ������� ��� �����, ����� ���

By: Samantha Wood

Some people love Valentine’s Daymore than others

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Chocoate is one of the most popularValentine’s Day treats

Loves MeBy: Taylor Beland

Everyone knows what Feb. 14 is; it’s one of the mostromantic days of the year. Being a hopeless romantic, I loveeverything about Valentine’s Day. The gifts, the love, the friends,everything. Valentine’s Day is good for couples, but can even begood for singles too.

Having a valentine makes the day more special. You areable to buy him/her a present and receive one back. No matterwhat you give or obtain, it’s always the thought that counts. Goingout and buying something for a loved one and knowing they arebuying something with me in mind, gives me a warm feeling inside.It could be something as little as a home made card; it still showsyou are loved.

Giving friends Valentine cards is fun too. I rememberbeing little and looking forward to Valentine’s Day at school,because we would make boxes and cards, and walk around theclass and give them to other students. It was fun because everyonereceived a card; no one was really left out, and so every child felttheir own little feeling of love.

Singles can enjoy this day because some single peopleare happy being single and just like buying things for their friends.This is because the most important part of this holiday is the love.Whether it’s the love of your friends, family, or significant other,it is very important.

This day is also romantic and anything you do that’sromantic in general will be extra romantic. For example, proposing,asking someone to be your boyfriend/girlfriend, and even goingon dates.

The origin of Valentine’s Day is not very clear. The onlyfact found about this holiday is that it’s rooted in Roman andChristian tradition, the rest is just legends and stories. One legendand the best known one is when the Roman emperor, Claudius thesecond, wanted men to join his army, but was having a hard timerecruiting. He believed the reason was due to married men notwanting to leave their families, so he banned all engagements andmarriages in Rome.

Saint Valentine, who was a priest in Rome, went behindClaudius’s back with the help of his friend Saint Marius, andsecretly continued to perform marriages. Valentine’s actions werediscovered and he was sentenced to death. While in prison he fellin love with a young girl, who may have been the jailor’s daughter,who visited him while he was there. A day before his death, onFeb. 14, he wrote her a letter and signed it, “From your Valentine.”In 496 AD., Pope Gelasius set aside Feb. 14 to honor St. Valentine’sactions of marrying couples behind the Emperor’s back.

Another legend is that Valentine’s Day started in AncientRome, on Feb. 14 to honor Juno, the queen of the Roman Godsand Goddesses. Romans also knew her as the Goddess of womenand marriage. The following day was the Feast of Lupercalia. Backthen, the lives of boys and girls were strictly separate.

Romance is on everyone’s mind onValentine’s Day

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What exactly isValentine’s Day? The honestanswer, no one knows. The dayof love and compassion seemsto only have a history of legendsand myth. Valentine’s Day iswhere men and women oftenask their significant others forgifts, such as roses, chocolates,clothes, perfumes, and anythingelse that can put a hole in theirpartner’s pocket.

The only proven factof Valentine’s Day is the legendthat Valentine was a priest fromRome who preformed youngpeople’s marriages secretlyafter Rome’s king, Claudius II,outlawed men to be married,under the belief that single menwere better soldiers.

The question no oneseems to ask, however, is whydo we need a specific day toshow all this love? Shouldn’tpeople show their love and careto their “better” half every day?It seems Valentine’s Day has

More Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is that one day when it seems like most guys are stuck on what to do for their significant other. We all know diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but sometimes it’s not at that point in the relationship. So, instead of going all out, try these tips for that special someone.

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Valentine’s Day: Buying for GuysBy: Elijah Casey

Valentine’s Day is the day for couples to express how much they care for and appreciate each other. The first thought that occurswhen Valentine’s Day is mentioned is what gifts to buy girls, since Valentine’s Day is more of a feminine holiday. But what about the guys?

Girls, if you’re having problems buying your partner a gift, try these tips:

turned into Christmas, whereit’s more about receiving thangiving. Girlfriends/boyfriendsusually expect a fantastic giftfrom their “other” even if theysay they don’t.

Where do singlepeople fall into this equation oflove and gifts? Single peopleare stuck with friends who givethose cheesy valentines andstale candy that says, “I loveyou” or the tacky, played out,“Be my valentine.” Throughoutthe whole day people arebombarded with useless trash,which in the end, is just thrownout.

Even if it is someone’schoice to be single, it is adefinite annoyance, especiallyfrom a male’s perspective, andthe only thing they’ll “love” onValentine’s Day is the day to beover.

Valentine’s Day hasturned into nothing more than agift-giving holiday with a veryfoggy history. As long as thechocolates, flowers, jewelry,and expensive gifts keepcoming, women will lookforward to Feb. 14.

Roses are red,Violets are blue,

The Eagle’s Eye is here to wish aHappy Valentine’s Day

to you!

• Gift Cards – Gift cards are a perfect gift to buy a guy for Valentine’s Day,but remember to buy from a store where they shop. If you purchase yourhoney a gift card for a place you want to go, then you are buying it for thewrong reason. You want your partner to know that this day is about givingto them and them only. Some ideas for gift cards would be clothing storeswhere they shop or restaurants they enjoy.

• Hats – Most guys would enjoy a sports hat as a gift, but if you’ve neverseen your partner wear one, be smart and don’t buy him one. When hatshopping for your partner, take three things into consideration: size, colorand the team. Size is critical; if the hat doesn’t fit then the gift is useless.Color is also important. If your partner is more of a loud dresser, then loudcolors are probably more appropriate. If your partner is a casual dresser,

then it wouldn’t be a good idea to buy a bright hat. Finally, when buying a hat beaware of the team the hat represents. To make sure you choose the right team,don’t be afraid to ask parents and friends for their opinions.

• Concert Tickets – These are always an exiting gift to give, if they’re for theright event. When buying tickets, make sure the person you’re buying the ticketsfor is free for the day of the event.

• Alone Time – Another great gift to give is time. Dinners are always great fortime spent alone with your significant other followed by dessert. Once you’redone eating, watch a movie, or do something of your partner’s choice.

With boys there are a lot of gifts that can be bought because they arenot too picky. As long as the gift comes from the heart and shows that you puteffort into finding it, it will always be a great Valentine’s Day gift.

Flowers – Most men think buying flowers is corny, but honestly,most girls love it. Don’t go out and buy a $100 bouquet though, try asingle rose, or their favorite flower. Giving a girl this gift shows howcaring a guy can be and it’s hard to go wrong with flowers.

· Candy, especially chocolate – If going the candy route, becareful. It’s dangerous territory. Just going to CVS, grabbing a randombox and throwing it at her won’t mean much. Choose carefully toshow her you listen to her preferences and you’re thoughtful. If youdon’t know, ask her friends or family.

· Candles – This one is a little tricky. Not all girls like candles,so be creative. For example, give her two table candles and tell herthat they are a sort of “coupon” for one dinner alone. That wouldshow her a romantic side, which is a huge plus.

· Fun date – Leave one entire day open. Don’t make plans laterwith the guys. Go see a movie or go to lunch. Go shopping or take herto a fancy restaurant for dinner. Go home later and just chill out orwatch television. Just be with her all day. Those kinds of days meanso much to most girls. It shows us how important we are.

· Picture frame or album – Buy one big picture frame and fill itup with good memories. This is really cheap but extremely thoughtful.

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Every time she looks at it, she’ll smile and remember all the hard workput into it.

· Stuffed Animals – A soft little bear or puppy will put a smileon almost any girl’s face. She can show it off on her bed and possiblyeven sleep with it. Her last thought each night will be her sweetboyfriend.

· Mixed CD – Make a CD of all “your” songs, songs she enjoysor songs that bring thoughts of her. That shows how well you listenand it’s extremely sweet. Also, almost everyone loves music, so it’spretty hard to go wrong with this one.

· Cards – This one takes time. You have to really think beforeyou pick a card. Make sure the words in the card show exactly whatshe means to you. Also, write a cute or mushy message along with thewords already printed. It will mean so much and it may be kept forever.

There is so much more that can be done for girls, simple or complex.They’re usually just happy to have someone to hang out with on Valentine’sDay. Be creative and make sure to tell your significant other exactly howyou feel this Valentine’s Day, no matter how “mushy” it seems. (Girls lovethat!)

It’s a HallmarkDay!

By: Ryan Olmo

Valentine’s Day: What to do for GirlsBy: Victoria Lane

As the years go on, theworld is decreasing its chancefor survival. With the ice capsmelting, oceans rising and theworld burning up, it’s nosurprise that more and morepeople are going green.

“Yes, I think globalwarming is getting worse.Between the melting ice caps,the abrupt hurricanes and therelease of carbon emissions intothe atmosphere, it’s prettyclear,” said earth scienceteacher Mr. Bill Reilly.

Humankind isassumed to be blamed for theseenvironmental issues: climatechange, electromagneticradiation and health, land use,overpopulation, and airpollution. Bigger disastersinclude deforestations, releaseof hazardous chemicals into theoceans and threats to the GreatBarrier Reef. Allowinghazardous fumes into the airand creating a major hole in theo-zone layer is something thathumankind has done andworsened.

“Yes, I believe inglobal warming because theglaciers are melting in the Northand South Pole,” said sciencesubstitute teacher Mrs. MaryBarrett.

The most observedeffect is the Arctic Shrinkage,which includes the ice capsmelting and rising sea-levels.Worldwide category four andfive hurricanes have increasedfrom 20 percent in the 1970s to35 percent in the 1990s.(<http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2008/earth_temp.html>).

Internationally, theglaciers will lose 60 percent oftheir volume by 2050,according to the climatologistJames Hanson. He has also saidthe ice sheets could suddenly

Staff:Gabriel AmatrudaTaylor BeaulieuTaylor BelandElijah Casey

Amy DeVincentCourtney DixonAmanda Kopiec

Victoria LaneJesse MallonRyan Olmo

Bhaumik PatelClarisse Rua

Talitha VidinhaErin Wilkie

Watson Yerm

Layout:Melanie ThibeaultSamantha Wood

*Ashley Zimmerman

Editors:Katelyn Delaurier

Emily DuganJoe Lazzerini

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Ashley Zimmerman

Advisor:Ms. Adeline Bee

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Student journalists are protected in their exercise of freedom of expression by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.Mass General Laws (MGL) ch. 71 & 82 States, “No expression made by students in the exercise of such rights shall be deemed to be an expression of school policy and

no school officials shall be held responsible in any civil or criminal action for any expression made or published by the students.”The Eagle’s Eye pledges our commitment to an integrated, non-violent society that rejects all forms of racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, and homophobia.

evaporate and exceed theirthreshold, which means theworld could unexpectedly end,because the waters would flowover the barriers of eachcontinent and there would beserious flooding, to the pointwhere there would be no placeto hide. The sea levels wouldrise three and a half inches to35 inches, which may not seemlike much but it is (<http://w w w . w o r l d v i e w o fglobalwarming.org/pages/glaciers.html>).

The more thewater increases itstemperature, the morehurricanes and naturaldisasters occur. Thiswas evidenced in 2005with hurricane Katrina(<http://www.skeptical science.com/Did-g l o b a l - w a r m i n g -c a u s e - H u r r i c a n e -Katrina.html>).

The decadesof the 1990s and2000s have been theworst and warmestyears the world hasseen. According toClimatic ResearchUnit, over the last 100years, the world hasbeen melting and there havebeen some major climatechanges and weather threats( < h t t p : / / w w w . i n d ependent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/last-decade-t h e - w a r m e s t - o n - r e c o r d -1836397.html>).

“Yes, I feel that globalwarming is getting worse. Thereis extreme temperaturechanges; recorded temperaturesare now broken in various partsof the country,” said GlobalIssues and U.S History teacherMr. Doug Matthews.

According to Hanson,there is some detection that the

thermohalin circulation couldshut down because of globalwarming. Thermohalincirculation or THC refers to thelarge scale ocean circulation. Itdeals with the temperature ofthe oceans. It would affectIceland, Ireland, Britain andmost of Europe. The effectswould be temperaturesdropping extremely fast andtemperatures far belowfreezing. The stability of thewaters is unclear, butthreatening.

“Are humans at faultor are we incidental to theproblem?” asked Earth Scienceteacher, Mr. T.J Maynard.

There has also evenbeen negative affects onanimals, especially on oceanand polar life.

Polar bears are tryingto scrounge up enough ice tolive on. Many marine animals,such as whales, turtles, andespecially polar bears areinjured or killed because of thedifferences in temperature andthe pollution the oceans receive.

Since the 1980s,glaciers have been severelymelting and deeply threaten the

existence of our world. Most ofthe Middle East couldexperience droughts and/or thediminishment of major riverssuch as the Ganges and Indus.

“I’m not too hopefulabout global warming; there isa good chance that life will beruined. I think the worst effectswill be on the smaller parts ofthe world,” said Matthews.

The salt water willeventually increase because ofthe salty ice caps melting, andthen fresh water will slowly

dissolve. This willaffect drinking water,threatening the watersupply on Earth.

As the climate changeapproaches, mankindcould experience anincrease of diseases,like plague or malaria.Diseases can betransferred from insectsto humans when warmertemperatures cause themigration of moreinsects.

There areeconomic issuescurrently, and with theglobal warmingworsening, thegovernment will have to

spend more taxpayers’ moneyto pay for disasters and curesfor sicknesses (<http://www.environmentalgraffiti .com/sciencetech/5-deadliest-effects-of-global-warming/276>).

“I think globalwarming is a problem that needsto be addressed. Everyonecontributes to a point and noweveryone needs to help fix it,”said Reilly.

The world isdeteriorating. It needs to beassisted. The world needs ourhelp before it’s too late formankind. “Man can always doa lot to change his ways,” said

Edition 2 Winter 2010

The World is MeltingBy: Courtney Dixon

retired and science substituteteacher Ms. Paula Sollitto.

Simply change thelight bulbs to florescent andcarpool, or lower the heat in thewinter and the use of airconditioning in the summer.Recycle papers and plastic,separately, of course, rightbefore leaving a room, turn thelight off and unplug what is notin use. Simple changes can helpthe earth, little by little.

“I recycle, take theMass Transit, looked at hybridcars, but not yet purchased, andalso use energy saving lightbulbs. It’s small stuff that youcan do,” said Reilly.

What we’ve done,creating a world of destructionand making a major hole in theo-zone layer, could come backand hurt us. If we don’t changeour lives, humanity will suffer.

“I feel a little nervousabout global warming, becauseI don’t know how high the waterlevels will rise and how muchland the water will cover,” saidBarrett

Planet Earth

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Anger is a common feelingamong teenagers, but sometimes itcan become out of control. Hereare a few tips to cool down whenfuming.

• Take a “timeout.”Although it may seemchildish, counting to10 before reactingreally can defuse yourtemper. Thinkcarefully beforesaying anything,otherwise, somethingregrettable may besaid.

• Write it down. It canhelp stick to theissues. While angry,it’s easy to becomesidetracked. If thatdoesn’t work, go sitoutside and breathe orgo in your room andput on head phones.

• Space is needed. Takea break from the

person you’re angrywith until more calm.When mad, somethingdone or said couldeasily hurt someone.

• Once calm, expressyour anger. It’shealthy to expressfrustration in a non-confrontational way. Ifkept bottled up, it mayburst out in a terribleway, hurting yourselfor others.

• Identify solutions tothe situation. Insteadof focusing on beingmad, work with theperson who angeredyou to resolve theissue at hand.

• Try not to hold agrudge. If it’s possibleto forgive the otherperson, do that. Life istoo short for grudges.There’s no way to

know how long thatperson will still be onthis planet.

• Practice relaxationskills. Learning skillsto relax and de-stresscan also help controlyour temper when itflares up. Tryrepeating a calmingword or phrase toyourself, such as“Take it easy,” or

“Calm down; it’sokay.” Other ways torelax could besomething as simpleas calling a friend ortaking a nap.

Anger is somethingeveryone deals with in life, somemore than others. It’s easy tobecome caught up in a badsituation while upset. Use thesetips to cool down when things arehot.

Dealing with AngerBy: Victoria Lane

Angry teens

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